Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
725–50K
2550–75K
3175–100K
23100–150K
2150K+
117 reports with mileage · 154 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports14 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
271 reports
50,133 miles · Aug 5, 2021
Service Brakes
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that her foot was taken off the brake pedal and that she had to repeatedly pump on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. In addition, the brake pedal …
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that her foot was taken off the brake pedal and that she had to repeatedly pump on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. In addition, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and there was a delay with stopping the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,133.
NHTSA ODI #11427879
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2021
Engine
On Tuesday July 27 2021, we noticed that the oil light was flickering at idle on our 2017 Kia Soul. We called a dealership and they recommended that we have the car towed to their service department. We received confirmation that the car arrived at the dealership at 1.32 pm on Tuesday July 27 2021. We’d like to note that our 2…
Read full complaint
On Tuesday July 27 2021, we noticed that the oil light was flickering at idle on our 2017 Kia Soul. We called a dealership and they recommended that we have the car towed to their service department. We received confirmation that the car arrived at the dealership at 1.32 pm on Tuesday July 27 2021. We’d like to note that our 2017 Kia Soul had approximately 20,000 miles on it at this time. The dealership ran diagnostics on car and found nothing wrong. They also drove the car and said that they saw no indication of a problem (no flickering oil light). They said that the oil looked dark and thin. We had checked the oil the day before and it looked yellow to gold in color. We were not shown any evidence that the oil was dark, only the word of the service department. We had the car serviced and then picked it up from the dealership. 10 minutes or so after picking the car up from the dealership, on Colorado Highway 58 heading west, just outside Golden, CO, there was a loud knocking noise and the check engine and oil pressure lights starting blinking. Seconds later, the car lost power, and then stalled. My husband was able to steer it to side of the highway, where we waited more than three hours for roadside assistance from Kia before having to leave the car to get somewhere safe. The outside temperatures were 90 degrees of more and our child, who was with us, is very sensitive to high temperatures. We are waiting to hear from the dealership (Kia towing somehow managed to cancel the tow order and left the car on the side of the road all night) and do not yet know the exact nature of the engine failure but the car is undriveable. The fact that the engine stalled and died on the highway, traveling at a speed of 55 mph, is incredibly dangerous and put my husband at extreme risk for an accident or the infamous Kia engine fire. All of this happened just minutes after picking up a car that we were told had no issues.
NHTSA ODI #11427280
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2021
Engine
Without warning indicators, my car lost power while I was driving it on a busy highway. I was able to coast onto an exit and a friend towed it to a safe area. I discovered there was no oil in the engine, even though I had had a recent oil change and no indicator on the car showed a problem with oil pressure, excessive heat, etc.…
Read full complaint
Without warning indicators, my car lost power while I was driving it on a busy highway. I was able to coast onto an exit and a friend towed it to a safe area. I discovered there was no oil in the engine, even though I had had a recent oil change and no indicator on the car showed a problem with oil pressure, excessive heat, etc. I added oil and drove it a few feet to a secure location, but heard engine knocking. I called a mechanic, who inspected it and confirmed that a rod was thrown and the engine would need to be replaced. He is sourcing the replacement currently. This is a 2017 Kia Soul, 2.0 engine.
NHTSA ODI #11426241
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2021
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
This is the second time I have had to have the traction and ABS sensors go bad. The first time it was fixed under warranty, this time I'm being told I have to pay $400 for a $37 part. This is a safety issue as I do not have ABS and traction control at all. You need that in Florida when it rains...every day. This needs to be fixe…
Read full complaint
This is the second time I have had to have the traction and ABS sensors go bad. The first time it was fixed under warranty, this time I'm being told I have to pay $400 for a $37 part. This is a safety issue as I do not have ABS and traction control at all. You need that in Florida when it rains...every day. This needs to be fixed under warranty, no excuses. This is a safety hazard, and if something like this doesn't get fixed, it opens lawsuits for Kia. I suggest that this be corrected under warranty or I will seek legal counsel.
NHTSA ODI #11426087
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2021
Engine
Beautiful morning only 72 at the time been driving for only about 15 mins. Pressed the gas and the car didn't do anything . I took my foot off and tried again this time I heard a shattering of glass? In the engine and the knocking started. I only drive it a block before I stopped and turned the vehicle off. Opened the hood chec…
Read full complaint
Beautiful morning only 72 at the time been driving for only about 15 mins. Pressed the gas and the car didn't do anything . I took my foot off and tried again this time I heard a shattering of glass? In the engine and the knocking started. I only drive it a block before I stopped and turned the vehicle off. Opened the hood checked the oil and it was empty. Nothing dripping under the car no smoke except from the area you add oil. Added oil tried again started still knocking towed It to the mechanic. I was told I have to replace or rebuild the engine. Like many I still have a loan payment and the cost of the repair is more than the cost of the note. Asked from help from insurance its not covered. Asked for help from the service department at the dealer they offered to sale me a new vehicle. Talking to an attorney now. There were no indications that there was anything wrong with the car and the engine is blown??? With correct maintenance.
NHTSA ODI #11420924
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other
Oil light came on and engine started knocking, then car shut off in the middle of the highway
NHTSA ODI #11420154
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2021
Engine
My KIA Soul did not have any warning lights on or strange sounds/issues when I began driving on the highway on 6/5/21 with my 12 year old special needs son. A short time after we entered the highway I began to notice a strange knocking sound and it felt like the car was struggling to maintain speed. Within a few seconds I starte…
Read full complaint
My KIA Soul did not have any warning lights on or strange sounds/issues when I began driving on the highway on 6/5/21 with my 12 year old special needs son. A short time after we entered the highway I began to notice a strange knocking sound and it felt like the car was struggling to maintain speed. Within a few seconds I started to smell a "hot" smell and immediately pulled over to the side of a two lane highway with a very small shoulder. When I pulled over the knocking became very loud and then all of the warning lights on the dash flashed on and then the car died. We were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of no where while trucks and cars flew by at high rates of speed. It was also incredibly hot and the car was not functioning to be able to roll down windows. I was able to use roadside assistance through my insurance company and it was towed to a local repair shop. I was told that the engine was blown and my engine had "thrown" internal parts. They said the engine was completely dead and needed replaced. They also stated that they have seen this issue a lot with Kia Soul's especially 2015-2017 models. In fact the owner said as soon as he heard what the car was he knew it was going to be engine failure. I am very lucky that I was able to pull over to the small shoulder before the car died or I would have been stuck in the middle of the road right after a hill and my car would have been impossible to see stopped by drivers coming over the hill before it would have been hit. This has also caused my special needs son to become extremely panicked in the car and afraid to drive with me. After a quick Google search I was able to find complaint after complaint after complaint about this issue with the 2017 Kia Soul at around 70-80,000 miles which is exactly where I am at. I know owe a great deal of money on a car that is totaled out unless I spend over $6,000 to replace the engine. Money that I do NOT have after losing my job due to Covid.
NHTSA ODI #11420015
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2021
Engine
I was headed to a family BBQ on memorial day in my 2017 Kia Soul that I have had about 2 years and is a certified pre-owned vehicle and did not notice any abnormalities or sounds prior to the incident. I went to partk and noticed that my check engine light popped on but thought nothing of it as my gas cap lock was broken and so …
Read full complaint
I was headed to a family BBQ on memorial day in my 2017 Kia Soul that I have had about 2 years and is a certified pre-owned vehicle and did not notice any abnormalities or sounds prior to the incident. I went to partk and noticed that my check engine light popped on but thought nothing of it as my gas cap lock was broken and so I turned off the vehicle. I want to note there was no sounds, and no over heating. That evening I went to leave and the car would not turn over and thought maybe the battery was bad, but was reminded that it was replaced one week prior. So I had it towed in the next day to a mechanic and upon initial inspection he found that the engine had siezed and locked up as well as it would not turn over. I'm pretty good about personally completing oil changes, but was sharing vehicle with my ex partner and was told that the oil came up 2 quarts short upon checking, but was told that should not be enough to make the engine seize. So the mechanic replaced the starter and upon turning over the vehicle the engine began to produce a bad knock and I was told that the engine was needing to be replaced and was going to lock up again if driven. The vehicle is at 70,000 miles so is no longer covered under the factory warranty and the extended warranty may not cover it so I'm at a lose at the moment. I find it really hard to believe that after all the research I've done on this engine problem and seeing all the people with the same situation occurring that a recall has not been issued on this year.
NHTSA ODI #11419629
65,000 miles · Jun 2, 2021
Engine
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he noticed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was adding a quart of oil every 546 miles. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it …
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he noticed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was adding a quart of oil every 546 miles. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The engine was flushed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #11419392
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2021
Engine
Driver was on freeway when car lost acceleration. Driver pulled over at first exit when the dash flashed various lights and shut down. Driver attempted to start the car but was unable to do so -- there was smoking from the engine so Driver had the vehicle towed to shop. It was determined that the engine failed catastrophically a…
Read full complaint
Driver was on freeway when car lost acceleration. Driver pulled over at first exit when the dash flashed various lights and shut down. Driver attempted to start the car but was unable to do so -- there was smoking from the engine so Driver had the vehicle towed to shop. It was determined that the engine failed catastrophically and would require an engine replacement.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2017 Kia Soul Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year